Apparatus



2 Sheets-Shet 1..

(No Model.)

J. B. PURVIS.

STEERING APPARATUS. 7

No. 439,763. Patented Nov. 4, 1890..

(No Model.) I v Sheets-Sheet J. B. PURVIS.

STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 439,763. Patented Nov. 4, 1 890.

A) $5 who (M011 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. PURVIS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO S. O. BROOKS, OF SAME PLACE.

STEERING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,763, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed July 24, 1889- Serial No. 318.504. (N model.)

"T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. PUEVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Steering Apparatus; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved steering apparatus adapted for either steam or hydraulic power, which shall be simple in construction and operation, and in which the liabilities of getting out of orderheretofore existing in devices of this class shall be overcome.

To this end my invention consists of the dcvices and appliances, their combinations and invention.

arrangements, as more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, and more fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagram plan illustrating my Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the power-cylinder and valve-chest, showing the valve in position to equalize the pressure on the piston.

I carry out my invention as follows: A represents the rudder; A, the rudder-stock; and A is a quadrant engaged thereupon. The stock may be extended through and above the quadrant in order that any ordinary hand apparatus may be attached thereto.

' B represents a power-cylinder provided with a piston 13, having piston-rods Z) Z) extending in opposite directions through the opposite ends of the cylinder.

C denotes a cable engaged with the quadrant and with each of the piston-rods, as shown. The cable may be passed about any suitable arrangement of pulleys D. The en gagement of the cable with the quadrant and with the two piston-rods is such that when the piston is moved in one direction the quadrant, and consequently the rudder, will be moved in an opposite direction.

E is a valve-chest communicating with the power-cylinder through posts 6 e.

E is a balanced valve to control admission to said cylinder, said valve provided with a valve-rod E extending through the valvechest.

E is a power-supply pipe, which may enter the valve-chest at either end, as shown at 8 6 E is an eXhaust-pipe.

I would have it definitely understood that I do not limit myself to any particular valve mechanism for controlling admission of power to the power-cylinder.

F is a lever for operating the valve, and which may have any suitable connection with the valve-rod.

G is an arm having a jointed engagement with one end of said lever, as shown at f, whereby said lever may be operated from the wheel or analogous steering device to throw the valve, as may be desired. The arm G may be fulcrumed in any suitable support or hanger G. At the opposite end the leverF is engaged with the quadrant A by means of a connecting-arm F, having a jointed engagement therewith, as at f.

I prefer that the connecting-arm shall have an adjustable engagement with the quadrant, and for this purpose the quadrant may be constructed with an elongated slot a,in which the adjacent end of the connecting-arm may be secured either nearer to or farther from the rudder-stock, as may be preferred. The lever F, as thus engaged with the valve, the operating-arm G, and the quadrant A affords a differential movement to the valve, and which may be regulated, as required, by the adjustment of the connecting-arm F in the quadrant A hen the rudder is amidships, the valve is in its normal position to slightly open both the ports to the cylinder 13, so that the pressure will be equalized on both sides of the piston. The valve will thus he in position so that a slight movement in the required direction will close one of the ports and open the other. We will suppose that the valve is thrown to move the piston in the direction of the arrow. The piston-rod b willthenbe moved inward, drawing the cable therewith and moving the quadrant A in the direction opposite to that indicated by said arrow. In this case the arm G is moved to throw the adjacent end of the lever F in the direction of the arrow. In the operation of the lever F by the arm G the point f is the fulcrum. Now, in consequence of the movement of the qu adrant, as above explained, it is evident that a differential movement is given to the valve, since the movement of the quadrant, as explained, will force the adjacent end of the lever F therewith, the point f being the fulcrum in this latter movement of said lever, and in consequence of which the valve will be restored to its normal position, equalizing the pressure upon the piston,.and consequently the rudder will be firmly held in position until the-valve is again operated, as desired. This restoration of the valve to its normal position in consequence of this differential movement will thus take place every time the valve is operated in either direction by the steersman. The nearer the connecting-arm F is adjusted to the rudder-stock the more the piston will travel before the valve will be restored to normal position, as it is evident that the adjacent end of the lever will in that case be moved a less distance than if the connecting armwereadjusted farther away'from the rudder-stock.

To: operate the valve from the steeringwheel or analogous apparatus H, cables Iare connectedwith the arm G, and also connected with said-steering device or wheel in any suitable manner. As shown in thedrawingssubmitted herewith, a steering-wheel. H; is engaged. with a winding-drum H.

J is a cable properly engaged with, said drumand with a reversing-lever K, suitable movable. pulleys j being provided for the training of said cable. The cable- I is engaged with said pulleys j. Fixed pulleys i .areprovidedfor the travelingofsaid cableI. In this manner the armG may be Very readily operated. I do not, however, limit myself to any precise manner of connecting the steering-wheel with said arm.

In an arrangement like that shown it is evident that the wheel H and lever K may have different locations, and that one or more steeringdevicesI-Ior K of any desired constructionmay. be located wherever desired-to connect withand operate the cable I.

A very. important: feature of my invention consists in the fact that the cylinder B with thecable G and immediately-related parts may. be locatedin the stern of the boatand. adjacent to the rudder, while the cable land its operating-mechanism. may be led forward, wherever desired.

Itis evident that but little power is requiredtooperate the valve from the wheel,

and'that in consequence the line or cable I may. he small and inexpensive, as there is but," little strain thereupon. The principal;

strain comes on the cable 0, which may be of required strength. Heretofore in devices in common use it has been customary and necessary to lead. the cable connected with the rudder up forward to the wheel, in consequence of which there has been great noise from the rattling of the heavy cable in the operation of the wheel, and moreover there has also been great liability of breaking the cable and thus rendering the rudder unmanageable. On account of the long distance from the rudder to the wheel it has been 1mpracticable and expensive to provide a cable of sufficient strength to overcome this 11ability of breakage. Furthermore, in ordinary steam steering devices it has been 1mpossible for the steersman to know what power he is putting on the cable, and the cable itself may get foul running so'long adistance, and possibly impeded in itsaction by the location of the freight and from other causes, so that as a practical fact great harm is liable to result from the breaking of the cable, as is not infrequently the, case;: but in my invention the cable is only a short cable, and being located nearthe rudder s more out of the way, for which reasonsit is not liable to be fouled, and may be made so heavy without any considerable expense as to overcome all liability of. breakage. When hydraulic power is employed, the cylinder B can ,be made of small size, and therefore-without large expense. When hydraulic power is employed, the supply-pipe leading to the valve-chest, it will be understood, leads to a suitable pump. The-pumpshouldbe soconstructed and arranged that when adesired degree ofv pressure is reached a valve-will close and stop the pump.

Iwould'have it understood that Ixdo not limit myself to the use of a. quadrant engaged with. the rudder-stock,as an ordinary. tiller might be used instead.

What ,I claim as my inventionisf 1. In a. steering apparatus, the combination of the rudder, the power-cylinder provided with a piston, a cable COHHGGhlDfifSEtId piston with the rudder, a valve to control admission of power to said cylinder, a valveoperatingdevice, and a connection between the valve-operating device, valve, and the rudder whereby the movement of the rudder operates said valve to cut off thepower .to said cylinder, said valve,- cylinder, and cable locatednear the rudder, and said valveoperating device locatedforward, as desired,

2. In a stecring-apparatus, the combination, withthe rudder, of apower-cylinder, a :piston located therein connected with the irudder, a valve to-control the admission. of power to said cylinder, a-lever connected with said rudder and valve, a valve-operatingdevice, and a cable-connection of said valve- ,operating device with said lever,substantially as described.

3. In a steering apparatus, the combina- In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. PURVIS.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, CHAS. F. SALoW. 

